Last week on Tuesday Ford Motor Co. and Mazda North American Operations issued urgent “Do Not Drive” warnings for more than 457,000 vehicles equipped with recalled, unrepaired Takata airbags. If you have one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective airbag is replaced.

This “Do Not Drive” warning covers all unrepaired, recalled Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles, as well as all Mazda vehicles, that are equipped with non-desiccated Takata airbags.

Ford’s warning covers 374,290 model year 2004-2014 vehicles previously recalled under the following campaigns:

• 17V787, 17V788
  • 2004-2006 Ranger
• 15V319
  • 2005-2006 GT
  • 2005-2014 Mustang
• 16V384, 17V024, 18V046, 19V001
  • 2005-2006 GT
  • 2005-2014 Mustang
  • 2006-2012 Fusion
  • 2006-2012 Lincoln MKZ/Zephyr
  • 2006-2012 Mercury Milan
  • 2007-2010 Edge
  • 2007-2010 Lincoln MKX
  • 2007-2011 Ranger

Mazda’s warning covers 82,893 model year 2003-2015 vehicles previously recalled under the following campaigns:

• 17V806, 17V807
  • 2004-2006 B-Series
• 16V499, 17V013, 18V016
  • 2007-2009 B-Series
• 17V474, 18V402, 18V403, 18V404, 19V488, 19V781
  • 2003-2008 Mazda6
  • 2006-2007 MazdaSpeed6
  • 2004-2011 RX-8
  • 2004-2006 MPV
• 17V429, 17V457, 18V018, 18V717, 19V782
  • 2009-2013 Mazda6
  • 2007-2012 CX-7
  • 2007-2015 CX-9

Some of these vehicles are now more than 20 years old, which increases the risk of an airbag rupturing in a crash. If an explosion occurs, it can severely injure or kill vehicle occupants.

NHTSA is urging all vehicle owners to immediately check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall. If it does, owners should contact their dealership to schedule a free repair as soon as possible and follow any warnings from the vehicle manufacturer. Ford and Mazda are offering free towing, mobile repair, and, if necessary, loaner vehicles.

Ford customers with questions or concerns can visit the automaker’s recalls website and check to see if their vehicle is affected. Mazda customers can visit its recalls website for more information and to check for recalls.

To date, NHTSA has confirmed 27 people in the U.S. have been killed by defective Takata airbags that exploded. In addition, at least 400 people in the U.S. reportedly have been injured by exploding Takata airbag inflators. Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata airbags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries. Older model-year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, as the age of the airbag is one of the contributing factors.